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- QPR History in Photos: "Celebrities at The Rangers"
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QPR 39 40 79
Norwich 39 21 70
Cardiff 39 17 66
Swansea 39 16 66
Leeds 39 12 64
Reading 38 20 60
Nott'm F 39 10 60 - Complete Table
Jacob Murtagh - Fulham Chronicle - QPR sweat over Adel Taarabt injury
ADEL Taarabt is set to have a scan later today in a bid to solve a mystery stomach complaint.
The QPR star has been dogged by the problem since the weekend, but still started in last night's 3-0 win against Sheffield United.
However, boss Neil Warnock revealed the mercurial Moroccan didn't trained all week ahead of the clash at Loftus Road.
He said: "Adel did well. He wasn't playing this morning or yesterday. He trained on Thursday and has had terrible stomach pains.
"He's going for a scan tomorrow if he can. I told him I didn't want him to play, but I thought he was good in the second-half.
"He was a threat first-half as well and made some great simple passes, which isn't easy for him!" Fulham Chronicle
QPR Official Site - GAFFER'S BLADES VERDICT
Posted on: Mon 04 Apr 2011
Neil Warnock admitted his side played some 'fabulous football', as the R's maintained their nine-point lead at the summit of the npower Championship with victory over Sheffield United.
Wayne Routledge's brace - as well as a stunning effort from Alejandro Faurlin - proved the difference at Loftus Road, with the QPR faithful left to witness some of the Hoops' finest passing play this season.
Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk moments after the final whistle: "I enjoyed the way we played. I've enjoyed it all season.
"We scored some great goals.
"We deserved to win and we played some fabulous football.
"I don't enjoy seeing my team in the situation that they're in.
"They gave everything - especially Monty (Nick Montgomery) and Quinny (Stephen Quinn), two lads who were there when I was.
"But we were better on the night. It's as simple as that."
He added: "I thought that all of my lads were key players.
"You can see we're enjoying it. That's the art of football.
"People talk about pressure but I think it's great watching us play like that. It's exciting.
"I don't think I have to keep the players focused.
"If you look at the type of player we've got, they keep themselves focused.
"We've got Sc**thorpe on Saturday and that'll be just as hard as any other.
"We'll be going there trying to win the game but we know it's going to be tough."
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2331176,00.html
INDEPENDENT/Glenn Moore - Routledge strikes twice to edge QPR closer to the promised landAs Queen's Park Rangers ease ever-closer to the Premier League, attention has begun to focus on how they might fare in the top flight, and in particular how Adel Taarabt will do. Rangers are not, though, a one-man team and this was amply demonstrated last night as they swept aside Sheffield United.
Taarabt, troubled by stomach pain, had a relatively quiet night but that mattered not as Wayne Routledge, Alejandro Faurlin and Tommy Smith tore the visitors apart with their passing and movement. Routledge is on loan from Newcastle but may well make his move permanent in the summer. Like Smith he has never quite established himself in the top flight and QPR may provide the stage for him to finally do so. Faurlin, though, could make the biggest impact. The Argentine is also the player at the centre of an FA investigation into transfer irregularities that might cost Rangers points, but probably will not.
Even a deduction looks unlikely to deny Rangers promotion. Victory moved Neil Warnock's team 13 points clear of the play-off places and three wins from their remaining seven games will confirm promotion.
Warnock, who will be celebrating his seventh promotion with six different clubs said: "It's in our hands. Other teams do their talking, we do ours on the pitch. That is the best way to do it."
For Sheffield United, however, relegation looms. They remain seven points adrift of safety. The decision to fire Warnock in the wake of the Blades' relegation from the Premier League four years ago looks ever more misguided.
"We are a soft touch away from home," said Adams, the fourth manager at Bramall Lane since Warnock was forced out. "We make too many errors and you can't do that against good players. Unfortunately that's been the story of our season. But we have to keep going, we have four home games left and that'll be key."
While the gap in quality was immediately apparent, the Blades did not lack endeavour and the leaders initially found the breakthrough hard to fashion.
Nevertheless Faurlin and Clint Hill had both spurned chances before the deadlock was finally broken. Faurlin played a lovely first-time pass out to Heider Helguson on the right. The Icelander chested the ball down before picking out Routledge who provided a clinical finish.
To the disgruntlement of their support, Rangers failed to press on and might have paid with Stephen Quinn, breaking from midfield, and Daniel Bogdanovic, from close in, squandering opportunities to level either side of the interval.
Sheffield's wastefulness proved costly. Seven minutes into the second period Matt Lowton failed to properly clear a corner and Faurlin cracked a first-time shot past Steve Simonsen. Eleven minutes later Faurlin, Smith and Helguson combined to set up Routledge who drove the ball inside the far post. There should have been more but Patrick Agyemang somehow blazed over from 10 yards and Simonsen denied Routledge a hat-trick with a sharp save. Nothing, though, could dent the joy of the Rangers' fans as they headed into the west London night. Independent
BBC - QPR 3 - 0 Sheff Utd - By Jamie Lillywhite
QPR took another step towards a return to the Premier League with a convincing win that leaves them nine points clear at the top of the Championship table.
Wayne Routledge opened the scoring with a measured volley from 12 yards.
United, who remain in the bottom three seven points from safety, had several chances, Daniel Bogdanovic blazing the best of them over soon after the break.
Alejandro Faurlin made them pay with a left-foot drive from 20 yards before Routledge drilled in his second.
Rangers looked every inch title winners-elect with Adel Taarabt, Routledge and Tommy Smith giving them numerous options going forward and Heidar Helguson linking the play cleverly.
They pressed from the outset and an inviting low right-wing cross from Taarabt should have been turned in by Clint Hill from inside the six-yard box rather than wide of the target.
But Routledge soon displayed superb technique to side-foot a looping cross from Helguson into the bottom corner.
United were showing plenty of spirit and Bogdanovic met a corner at the near post only for Shaun Derry to block the attempt on the line.
Shortly before half-time the visitors felt they should have had a penalty.
Bogdanovic's headed flick put Stephen Quinn in the clear and he fell under challenge from Fitz Hall as he was about to shoot eight yards out, but referee Keith Stroud was well placed and waved away the appeals.
Bogdanovic was in the thick of the action again with barely a minute of the second half played.
The Maltese striker again eluded his marker but as the ball sat up in front him on the edge of the six-yard box he fired way over.
Faurlin hit the goal of the night when a poor clearance following a corner fell to him just outside the box and a sweetly struck shot flew into the net, his first goal since January.
In the 66th minute Routledge collected a Helguson pass on the right-hand side of the area and drilled a low angled shot across Blades' keeper Steve Simonsen into the bottom corner.
Routledge, who helped Newcastle to promotion last term, was denied a hat-trick when a volley from the edge of the six-yard box following Helguson's headed knock-down was brilliantly turned away by Simonsen.
Substitute Patrick Agyemang, after a perfectly executed one-two with Helguson after a delightful team move, was far less clinical at the crucial moment and sent a shot way over the bar.
Rangers continued to pour forward, Ishmael Miller's left-foot shot from the corner of the area rattling the side netting.
Hall made a timely block when substitute Marcus Bent was through on goal and then Hill threw himself in front of a Yeates shot as QPR showed defensive strength to complement their attacking creativity.
QPR manager Neil Warnock:
"I enjoy the way we play, we scored great goals and deserved to win but I don't enjoy seeing my old team in the situation they are in."
Sheffield United boss Micky Adams:
"Unfortunately we're a soft touch away from home, we make too many errors defensively and you can't afford to do that against quality players.
"I couldn't fault the work-rate, we had chances, particularly in the first-half, but that's been the story of the season.
"There are seven games left, four at home, and they will be the key to it all.
"There are two home games coming up and we have to be nice and positive and defend better than we did here."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/9443597.stm
TELEGRAPH -By John Ley, Loftus RoadQueens Park Rangers need just three wins from seven games to return to the Premier League after securing another impressive victory at Loftus Road on Monday night. Promotion could be achieved before then, and it is a brave man who bets against Neil Warnock’s team.
Wayne Routledge scored a goal either side of a second, from Alejandro Faurlin, leaving Sheffield United seven points adrift in the relegation zone. That Faurlin is the subject of an inquiry over third-party ownership will not be lost on the visitors, who successfully challenged West Ham’s ownership of Carlos Tévez after suffering relegation from the top flight in 2007.
Rangers welcomed back Championship Player of the Year Adel Taarabt, after the Moroccan missed Saturday’s win at Doncaster after a cousin was shot dead in Marseille.
Taarabt wanted to play at the weekend but Warnock insisted he was rested, recalling him last night. And the playmaker had an opportunity to make his mark with an early free-kick, but the former Spurs player found the defensive wall.
United faced the manager who took them into the Premier League in 2006. But Warnock was also in charge when they were relegated a year later.
Rangers had the better of the early exchanges. Taarabt had a penalty appeal rejected when he fell at the feet of Nyron Nosworthy and then Rangers’ best asset offered Clint Hill a chance from six yards but the defender clipped the ball just wide when he should have scored.
United arrived having lost 11 of their previous 17 league games and, from being penned in their own half for the opening 20 minutes, began to adjust to the pace of the game.
However, in the 29th minute they fell behind to a goal from Routledge. Alejandro’s long, clever pass found Heidar Helguson and his cross, from the right, was finished in some style by the man on loan from Newcastle United.
Sheffield threatened to respond before the interval when Daniel Bogdanovic’s shot tested Paddy Kenny but the former United goalkeeper, who went into the game with 21 clean sheets, marked his 450th league appearance with a good save. And Stephen Quinn also went close for the visitors, his attempt under pressure, just missing the left-hand post.
At the other end, Bradley Orr brought a response from the crowd that sounded very much like his surname when he ventured forward before rifling an attempt just wide of Steve Simonsen’s goal.
Sheffield had shown signs of promise in the first half that belied their lowly position and, with the second half less than two minutes old, they had another opportunity to restore parity but Daniel Bogdanovic’s finish was woeful, his shot from close range lifted high over Kenny’s crossbar.
Routledge claimed his second and Rangers’ third, courtesy of Heidar Helguson, to condemn United to a worrying final seven games. Telegraph
GUARDIAN
Wayne Routledge scores twice as QPR stroll past Sheffield United
*
* Sachin Nakrani at Loftus Road
Queens Park Rangers re-established their nine-point lead at the top of the Championship, and such was the manner in which they won that they will feel the gap can be widened further. Rangers were dominant, scoring three but threatening to score many more. They look as strong contenders for promotion as Sheffield United do for relegation.
The return of Adel Taarabt was a sizeable boost for the hosts. The club captain missed last week's win at Doncaster after finding out on the eve of the game that his cousin had been shot dead in Marseille. Here, the 21-year-old played a fizzing cross from the right wing after 15 minutes that should have resulted in a goal. Unmarked in the six-yard area, the left-back Clint Hill made contact but it was slight and the ball drifted away from the far post.
The pressure continued, with United unable to halt QPR's high-pressing, quick-passing play. The visitors' outlet was their own returning hero, Darius Henderson, the striker making his second appearance in 12 months, having recovered from a serious hamstring injury. The 29-year-old, playing as a lone striker, was well marshalled by the QPR centre-back Fitz Hall.
The ball was always heading back towards United's area and it came as no surprise when QPR took the lead on 29 minutes, through Wayne Routledge's close-range shot. The winger reacted calmly to Heidar Helguson's cross, having been left unmarked at the far post by Nyron Nosworthy. It was almost 2-0 a little over 10 minutes later when Bradley Orr cut in from the right and curled a shot that drifted just over the bar.
United began the second half brightly and they could have equalised through Daniel Bogdanovic. The midfielder should have done better with a close-range shot that sailed over the bar. The miss proved costly after 52 minutes. Lurking at the edge of the area as Matthew Lowton cleared Taarabt's corner, Alejandro Faurlin drove a left-footed shot into the right-hand corner of the net.
It was 3-0 14 minutes later, after Tommy Smith played the ball to Taarabt. He rolled it out to Routledge, who strolled towards goal before driving a low drive past Steven Simonsen and into the far corner of the net.
Routledge was unlucky not to complete his hat-trick soon after, when the his close-range shot was fantastically saved, low down, by Simonsen. It should have been 4-0 on 78 minutes, when Patrick Agyemang, on as a substitute for Taarabt, hit a drive over the bar as an open net waited. Guardian
QPR Official Site
Queen's Park Rangers Football ClubWayne Routledge's deadly double - as well Alejandro Faurlin's outstanding effort - saw QPR cement their lead at the top of the npower Championship thanks to an excellent 3-0 victory over Sheffield United.
It was no more than the Hoops deserved for an accomplished performance, as the R's displayed some of their best football of the season to record the win.
Rangers were in front on 29 minutes when Routledge's bullet effort from 10 yards left Steve Simonsen with no chance, following good work from Faurlin and Heidar Helguson.
QPR were the better side in the first half and they were further in front just seven minutes after the break, following Faurlin's beautifully-struck shot from the edge of the box.
And there was even time for a Routledge second, with the R's fashioning arguably their best move of the match last.
Faurlin, Tommy Smith, Helguson and Routledge were all involved, as the latter finished the move with a smashed a low effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the net from 18 yards.
The result now leaves the R's nine points clear at the summit ahead of Norwich City, with the gap to third place some 13 points.
The R's made one change for the visit of Micky Adams' Blades, as Adel Taarabt returned to the starting XI to replace Hogan Ephraim.
Paddy Kenny was in goal for QPR, with Rangers' back four made up of Bradley Orr, Fitz Hall, Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill.
Faurlin and Shaun Derry were in defensive midfield, behind attacking trio Routledge, Taarabt and Smith.
Helguson led the R's line up front.
The opening stanza was one of very few clear-cut chances, as both sides battled for supremacy.
However, it was R's forward Smith who had the first chance to note, with the former Watford Portsmouth man picking up possession on 25 yards before dragging his shot wide of the left-hand post.
The affair sprung into life shortly after.
A sumptuous passing move from the Hoops eventually ended in Taarabt sending over a low pinpoint cross for Faurlin, whose curling effort whistled just over the bar.
It was a joy to watch and, following that fine passage of play, you felt the R's - and cultured midfield man Faurlin in particular - were starting to find their rhythm.
Moments later, Rangers missed arguably their best chance to take the lead.
Smith turned Taarabt's initial corner back out to the magical Moroccan on the right and, after he turned the ball back across the face of the target, Hill agonisingly miscued his shot, dragging an effort wide from close range.
But the R's didn't have to wait too much longer for that opening goal, with more free-flowing football eventually carving open an Rangers first on 29 minutes.
Faurlin - who had been of the instigator of all things good for QPR in the first period - was heavily involved, as he swept a pass out wide for Helguson on the right.
The Icelandic international's delivery was to perfection, with his cross finding Routledge at the back stick, who made no mistake to bury an effort into the bottom right-hand corner past Simonsen from 12-yards out.
Orr almost doubled the R's lead going into the break.
The Liverpudlian left-back picked up possession out wide on the right and, when he cut in past his marker, Orr's stunning effort from fully 30 yards curled inches over the left-hand upright.
United could - and probably should - have restored parity just two minutes after the interval.
Nyron Nosworthy's cross from the right fell perfectly for Daniel Bogdanovic, only for the former Barnsley striker to blaze high and wide of the target with the goal at his mercy from 10-yards out.
However, play soon switched to the other end and, on 52 minutes, the R's doubled their advantage.
Taarabt was again in the thick of the action, with his teasing corner from the left deflecting only as far as Faurlin on the edge of the box.
The rest was simply stunning, with the Argentinean playmaker making no mistake with his effort from 18-yards out that flew past Simonsen into the right-hand side of the net.
It was no more than the outstanding Faurlin deserved for truly exceptional individual display.
If that wasn't enough, Rangers reserved arguably their finest piece of football on the night until last, with Routledge on target with his second - and the R's third - on 66 minutes.
Faurlin, Smith, Helguson and Routledge exchanged passes before the ball eventually found its way out to the latter on the right-hand edge of the box, who drilled a low effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
And Routledge was denied of his hat-trick by a quite spectacular piece of goalkeeping by Simonsen.
Helguson's knock-down from a searching long-ball found the feet of the diminutive wide-man, whose subsequent effort was fantastically tipped wide by the Blades shot-stopper.
QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry (Buzsaky 86), Hall, Taarabt (Agyemang 71), Helguson, Faurlin, Gorkss, Routledge, Smith (Miller 81).
Subs: Cerny, Ephraim, Chimbonda, Shittu.
Goals: Routledge (29 & 66), Faurlin (52)
Bookings: Hill (45)
Sheffield United: Simonsen, Nosworthy (Riise 59), Collins, Lowton, Mattock, Montgomery, Doyle, Quinn, Henderson, Bogdanovic (Yeates 65), Evans (Bent 79).
Subs: Askalu, Cresswell, Kozluk, McAllister.
Bookings: Montgomery (10)
Referee: Mr K P Stroud
Attendance: 14, 535 (415)
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~51921,00.html
Sheffield United Official Site
The Blades were unable to follow up the impressive success over Leeds in Monday evening's encounter with Championship leaders QPR.
Free-spending Rangers repeated the 3-0 victory they recorded at Bramall Lane earlier in the season but United battled and created plenty of chances at Loftus Road.
However, two goals from Wayne Routledge and one from Alejandro Faurlin secured the points for Neil Warnock's side.
Henderson was handed a start after returning from suspension and Collins was deemed fit to play after injury. They took the places of Vokes, no longer at the club, and Lowry, who has a thigh strain. The personnel suggested that boss Adams was continuing with the 4-3-3 system that was successful against Leeds last time out, and, despite being away on this occasion, this was again the case with Evans and Bogdanovic flanking Henderson up top.
Wearing black shirts with red shorts and socks, United were put under pressure early on. Smith fired wide and a Taarabt free-kick was blocked by the wall, whilst the visiting side's first opportunity was a 35-yard half-volley from Henderson, but the effort flew over the crossbar.
Montgomery was cautioned after 10 minutes for committing his second foul around the edge of the penalty area and Taarabt was prominent in most of the home side's early attacks, his team-mates trying to find him at every opportunity. The Moroccan wanted a penalty when he ran into Nosworthy and then set up Faurlin to shoot over the crossbar.
From a near-post Taarabt cross on 14 minutes, Hill failed to get enough of a contact and the ball squirmed across the six-yard box. The Blades hit back with a couple of corners and a Henderson header, which was straight at Kenny, before QPR opened the scoring just before the half hour mark.
Helguson stayed onside to take a ball down the right channel and from his looped cross, ROUTLEDGE pulled away from Nosworthy to volley past Simonsen.
United hit back with a neat and patient move from right to left involving Evans, Mattock, Quinn, Montgomery and Bogdanovic but two efforts were blocked, as was another from the latter, which was confirmed as on target by the replays. Bogdanovic then hit a shot from outside the box that was comfortable for Kenny.
One of the lesser attacking threats in QPR's team, Orr, drifted in from the right and came within inches of doubling the lead with a left-footed curler from outside the box before a great chance for United arrived on 42 minutes. Henderson and Bogdanovic flicked on to put Quinn clear with just Kenny to beat but the midfielder sliced his effort wide with Hall breathing down his neck.
During the two minutes of added time at the end of a frantic half, United did well to push back the home side but were unable to search out the elusive leveller.
United began the second half well and Bogdanovic fired over a cross from the right and then a powerful effort from Nosworthy struck and stung Hall's face. However, bad news was just moments away.
Nosworthy conceded a corner and from Taarabt's delivery, Lowton's clearance fell just right for FAURLIN to hammer back a volley into the corner of the net, beyond the reach of Simonsen.
Despite the two-goal deficit, the Blades continued to battle and Evans fired wide and Henderson could not direct a Mattock cross towards goal.
Boss Adams threw on Riise and Yeates, at the expense of Nosworthy and Bogdanovic, switching to 4-4-2 in the process, with Montgomery at right-back. However, soon after, Rangers added their third. United backed off Smith and Helguson before ROUTLEDGE was supplied and he smashed a low effort across the goalkeeper, into the bottom corner.
Winger Routledge was denied a hat-trick by Simonsen's fine reflex save, after Helguson had nodded down, whilst the first major contribution of Yeates was to pick up a booking for a foul on Kenny.
Rangers were now racking up the attempts on goal. Helguson headed over, Agyemang missed a sitter and Simonsen had to save from both Faurlin and Smith. United's luck was summed up on 77 minutes when a long-range effort from Mattock hit Riise!
Bent was introduced for the final ten minutes, replacing the tiring Evans, but he had little opportunity to impress. Henderson did have the ball in the net late on, via a post, but the whistle had already gone as the ball had rolled out of play before Riise delivered a cross.
The final moments - plus four minutes of added time - were incidental in terms of the result but United continued to battle for the 415 Blades inside Loftus Road. Bent had an effort blocked and also headed over, whilst a Yeates shot was deflected away for a corner.
QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry (Buzsaky 86), Hall, Taarabt (Agyemang 71), Helguson, Faurlin, Gorkss, Routledge, Smith (Miller 81). Subs: Cerny, Ephraim, Chimbonda, Shittu.
Blades: Simonsen, Nosworthy (Riise 59), Montgomery, Henderson, Doyle, Evans (Bent 79), Bogdanovic (Yeates 65), Mattock, Collins, Quinn, Lowton. Subs: Aksalu, Cresswell, Kozluk, McAllister.
http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10418~51921,00.html
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